Portable flood barrier section and flood barrier

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a portable flood barrier section ( 1 ) to be located on a ground ( 2 ) to form a barrier ( 3 ) against flooding water ( 4 ), comprising an erectable wall ( 5 ) which along one of its edges ( 6 ) is hinged to a basis. The hinge ( 7 ) enables a rotating erection (A) of the wall ( 5 ) from an essentially horizontal position to an erected position. A flexible or rigid tie ( 8, 9 ), which extends from the basis to the wall ( 5 ) on the flooded side ( 10 ) of the wall ( 5 ), prevents an erection of the wall ( 5 ) beyond the erected position. A seal ( 12 ) is in the erected position of the flood barrier section ( 1 ) located between the flood barrier section and the ground ( 2 ). The flood barrier section ( 1 ) is adapted to, prior to flooding, to expose the seal ( 12 ) to a positive sealing pressure exceeding a pressure caused by the weight of the flood barrier section ( 1 ). The invention also relates to a flood barrier ( 3 ) comprising flood barrier sections ( 1 ).

[0001] The invention relates to a portable flood barrier section to belocated on a ground to form a barrier against flooding water, comprisingan erectable wall which along one of its edges is hinged to a basis, thehinge enabling a rotating erection of the wall from an essentiallyhorizontal position to an erected position, and a flexible or rigid tiewhich extends from the basis to the wall on the flooded side of thewall, to prevent an erection of the wall beyond the erected position.

[0002] The invention also relates to a flood barrier comprising floodbarrier sections.

[0003] Flooding, caused by melted snow, storms or heavy rain, each yearcause great damage and sometimes personal injury. Various types ofbarricades are used as flood barriers. An example of a barricade is thesandbag barricade. This barricade is, however, slow to build, and thebuilding require a lot of labour.

[0004] Flood barriers which can be erected more quickly are known. GB 1562 022 describes a flood barrier section or barrage which ispermanently attached to a basis formed by a threshold structure on thebottom of a waterway to be dammed, the threshold structure beingprovided with a hollow recess to receive the barrage. The barragecomprises a wall or flap which along one of its edges is hinged to thethreshold structure, the hinge enabling a rotating erection of the wallfrom an essentially horizontal position to an erected position, in orderto form a barrier against flooding water. A tie which extends from thethreshold structure to the wall on the flooded side of the wall preventsan erection of the wall beyond the erected position.

[0005] A drawback of the flood barrier according to GB 1 562 022 is thatboth the threshold structure and the various elements of the barrier areexposed to the environment when not in use. Such exposure to humidity,and possibly frost or heat, will after some years normally causecorrosion and malfunctioning. Further, the location of the flood barrieris restricted to the location of the threshold structure.

[0006] Portable flood barriers, which can be stored under controlledconditions when not in use, are also known. SE 507 121 describesportable flood barrier sections to be located on a ground to form abarrier against flooding water, comprising a vertical wall which alongits lower edge is attached to a support plate. A tie which extends fromthe support plate to the wall on the flooded side of the wall preventsthe wall from yielding to the pressure of the flooding water. In acollapsible embodiment the wall and the support plate can be separated,and the support plate has a groove for fixing the wall. A flexiblewaterproof sheet prevents leakage through the connection between thewall and the support plate.

[0007] A drawback of the flood barrier according to SE 507 121 is thatwater may leak underneath the support plate. Further, in the collapsibleembodiment, the connection between the wall and the support plate willeasily loosen.

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide a portable floodbarrier section and a portable flood barrier for which water leakageunderneath the flood barrier section or the flood barrier and the groundis prevented or is only small. A further object is that the portableflood barrier section preferably shall be collapsible, in order toenable compact storing when not in use.

[0009] The objects are achieved by a portable flood barrier sectionaccording to claim 1 and a flood barrier according to claim 12.

[0010] The invention thus relates to a portable flood barrier section tobe located on a ground to form a barrier against flooding water,comprising an erectable wall which along one of its edges is hinged to abasis, the hinge enabling a rotating erection of the wall from anessentially horizontal position to an erected position, and a flexibleor rigid tie which extends from the basis to the wall on the floodedside of the wall, to prevent an erection of the wall beyond the erectedposition. The portable flood barrier section is provided with a sealwhich in the erected position of the flood barrier section is locatedbetween the flood barrier section and the ground. The flood barriersection is adapted to, prior to flooding, to expose the seal to apositive sealing pressure exceeding a pressure caused by the weight ofthe flood barrier section. It is thereby provided a portable floodbarrier section for which water leakage underneath the flood barriersection and the ground is prevented or is only small. The hinge betweenthe wall and the basis makes the portable flood barrier sectioncollapsible.

[0011] The portable flood barrier section according to the invention canbe realised in various embodiments.

[0012] In one embodiment of the portable flood barrier section the basisis formed by a support plate which is located on the flooded side of thewall. In this embodiment the seal may be located under the supportplate.

[0013] In another embodiment the basis is formed by a permanentfoundation in the ground. In both this embodiment and the embodiment inwhich the basis is formed by a support plate, the wall may be providedwith a projecting seal flange extending along the hinged edge of thewall, and the seal may be located under the seal flange.

[0014] In addition to the positive sealing pressure from the floodbarrier section according to the invention, the seal is during theflooding exposed to a sealing pressure which is caused by the pressureof the flooding water. An increasing water height, which will cause anincreasing tendency to water leakage underneath the flood barriersection, also causes an increasing pressure on the flood barriersection, which in turn causes an increasing sealing pressure.

[0015] The invention also relates to a flood barrier comprising floodbarrier sections according to the invention. In this flood barrier, theflood barrier sections are mutually joined in the longitudinal directionof the flood barrier by waterproof second seals.

[0016] Further objects and embodiments of the invention will appear fromthe detailed part of the description and the drawings, in which:

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a portable flood barriersection and a flood barrier according to the invention,

[0018]FIG. 2 illustrates a detail from FIG. 1,

[0019]FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a portable flood barriersection according to the invention,

[0020]FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of a portable flood barriersection according to the invention,

[0021]FIG. 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a portable flood barriersection according to the invention,

[0022]FIG. 6 illustrates a foundation to be used with the invention, and

[0023]FIG. 7 illustrates another foundation to be used with theinvention.

[0024]FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a portable flood barriersection 1 according to the invention. The flood barrier section 1 islocated on a ground 2, and together with an adjoining flood barriersection 1′ and other not illustrated flood barrier sections, theillustrated flood barrier section forms a flood barrier 3 againstflooding water 4.

[0025] The flood barrier section 1 comprises an erectable wall 5 whichalong one of its edges 6, i.e. its lower edge, is hinged to a basis,which is formed by a support plate 13 which is located on the floodedside 10 of the wall 5. A hinge 7, which will be discussed later, enablesa rotation of the wall 5 in the direction indicated by the arrow A,between a not illustrated essentially horizontal, collapsed storageposition in which the wall 5 is located on top of the support plate 13,and the essentially vertical erected position which is illustrated inFIG. 1. The hinge 7 thus enables erecting the wall 5 from the storageposition to the erected position when the flood barrier is to be used.

[0026] A flexible tie 8, formed by a rope, is in one end attached to anattachment 49 of the wall 5, and in the other end attached to anattachment 50 of a support bracket 48. The support bracket 48 isattached to the support plate 13 by a hinge 39, and is able to rotateinto a collapsed position, as illustrated by the arrow B. The tie 8extends from the support plate 13 to the wall 5 on the flooded side 10of the wall 5, and prevents an erection of the wall 5 beyond the erectedposition in FIG. 1.

[0027] In use, when water 4 is present on the flooded side 10 of thewall 5, a potential problem is leakage of water underneath the floodbarrier section 1, to the non-flooded side 11. To prevent this, theflood barrier section 1 is provided with a seal 12 which in the erectedposition of the flood section 1 is located between the flood barriersection and the ground 2. The flood barrier section 1 is adapted to,prior to flooding, to expose the seal 12 to a positive sealing pressureexceeding a pressure caused by the weight of the flood barrier section1, i.e. the seal 12 is exposed to a sealing pressure which is largerthan it would have been if the seal 12 was just placed underneath theflood barrier section 1, and the flood barrier section was resting onthe seal 12.

[0028] In the embodiment in FIG. 1, ballast in the form of a sand bag 14is located upon the support bracket 48, which ballast forces the supportplate 13 downwards. The seal 12 is located under the support plate 13,close to an edge 54 of the support plate 13 which is distal to the wall5. The weight of the wall 5 and the ballast 14 causes the support plate13 to exert a downwardly directed levering action, which causes apositive sealing pressure on the seal 12. The weight of the water 4above the support plate 13 also causes a downwardly directed pressure onthe support plate 13, which causes a sealing pressure on the seal 12. Anincreasing water height, which will cause an increasing tendency towater leakage underneath the flood barrier section 1, also causes anincreasing pressure on the support plate 13, which in turn causes anincreasing sealing pressure on the seal 12.

[0029] A sheet of water-proof canvas 16, which is attached to the ground2 by pegs 17 and squeezed between the support plate 13 and the supportbracket 48, provides an additional sealing effect. The pegs 17 provide atemporarily attachment between the support plate 13 and the ground 2.

[0030] In the embodiment in FIG. 1, the hinge 7 is formed by a flexiblesheet 15 which is attached to the wall 5 and the support plate 13.Preferably the flexible sheet 15 is waterproof and attached to thesupport plate 13 and the wall 5 by a suitable waterproof adhesive. Thisensures a leak tight connection between the support plate 13 and thewall 5.

[0031]FIG. 2 illustrates a detail from FIG. 1, and it can be seen thatthe flexible sheet 15 is attached to the upper side of the support plate13, i.e. the side of the support plate facing the water 4. Further theflexible sheet 15 is attached to the side of the wall 5 which faces awayfrom the flooding water 4, i.e. the non-flooded side 11 of the wall 5.The water 4 exerts a pressure both on the support plate 13 and the wall5, and this way of attaching the flexible sheet 15 ensures that, in thearea of the hinge 7, the water pressure causes a positive pressurebetween the flexible sheet 15 and the support plate 13, and also betweenthe flexible sheet 15 the wall 5. This way of attaching the flexiblesheet 15 to the support plate 13 and the wall 5 thereby ensures that theconnection between the support plate 13 and the wall 5 does not tearapart.

[0032] In a not illustrated embodiment, in which the support bracket 48is not included, the ballast 14 can be placed directly on the supportplate 13, and the seal 12 can be located under the support plate.

[0033] The flood barrier sections 1, 1′, see FIG. 1, are mutually joinedin the longitudinal direction of the flood barrier 3 by waterproofsecond seals 21. Such second seals may be formed by water-tightzip-fasteners or seal-lips which are attached to the flood barriersections by velcroue.

[0034]FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a portable flood barriersection 1 according to the invention. Like the flood barrier section inFIG. 1, this flood barrier section also has a wall 5, a support plate 13and a flexible sheet 15 which forms a hinge 7 between the wall and thesupport plate, and which provides a possibility for moving the wall asillustrated by the arrow A. Instead of the support bracket 48 in FIG. 1,this flood barrier section has a hinge bracket 23 which is attached toan edge 54 of the support plate which is distal to the wall 5 by meansof bolts 25, and which forms an attachment for a flexible tie 8 whichprevents the wall 5 from being erected beyond the erected position.

[0035] In the embodiment in FIG. 3, the support plate 13 is adapted totemporarily attachment to a permanent foundation 18 in the ground 2.This is achieved by the hinge bracket 23, which via a curved portion 24is hinged to a hinge pin 22 of the foundation 18. The foundation 18 willhave to be built prior to the flooding, in an area in which flooding isexpected, and at a place in which it is suitable to erect the floodbarrier. The seal 12 is located under the support plate 13, close to theedge 54 of the support plate 13 which is distal to the wall 5. Thepositive sealing pressure on the seal 12 is caused by a levering actiondue to the weight of the wall 5 and the hinge 22, 24 to the permanentfoundation 18. The seal 12 is located on the foundation 18. The surfaceof the foundation 18 is fairly flat, which ensures a good sealingbetween the support plate 13 and the foundation. Thus there is no needfor the water-proof canvas 16 which is illustrated in FIG. 1. Duringflooding, water (not illustrated) above the support plate 13 press thesupport plate down and creates an increased sealing pressure on the seal12.

[0036]FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of a portable flood barriersection 1 according to the invention. Like the flood barrier section inFIGS. 1 and 3, this flood barrier section also has a wall 5 and asupport plate 13, which are hinged together by a hinge 7 which enablesrotation of the wall 5 in the direction illustrated by arrow A. Thehinge 7 consist of a flexible sheet 15 attached to the wall 5 on theflooded side 10 of the wall and the support plate 13 on the upper side.A right-angled support bracket 29 on the non-flooded side 11 of the wall5 is attached to the support plate 13 and keeps the lower side of thewall 5 in place adjacent to the support plate 13. A rigid tie 9connected to a snap fastener 31 on the wall 5 and a snap fastener 32 onthe support plate 13, prevents the wall 5 from moving beyond the erectedposition, and at the same time holds the wall 5 in an erected position.

[0037] The support plate 13 is adapted to temporarily attachment to apermanent foundation 18 in the ground by means of a tension band 30. Thetension band 30 is attached in one end to the snap fastener 32 on thesupport plate 13, at a position near an edge 54 of the support plate 13distal to the wall 5. The other end of the tension band 30 is attachedto a pin 22 of the foundation 18. The tension band 30 may be flexibleand/or adjustable, since this will give an easier installation of theflood barrier. The tension band 30 is favourable made of a material withlittle or no elasticity, but it may be elastic. As for the embodiment inFIG. 3, the foundation 18 will have to be built prior to the flooding,in an area in which flooding is expected, and at place in which it issuitable to erect a flood barrier.

[0038] In the embodiment in FIG. 4, the seal 12 is located under thesupport plate 13 distal to the wall 5. The positive sealing pressure iscaused by a levering action due to the weight of the wall 5 and thesupport plate 13 and the tension in the tension band 30 connected to thefoundation 18. Further, sealing pressure on the seal 12 is also providedby the weight of the water during flooding, which will press the supportplate 13 down. The seal 12 is, as in the embodiment in FIG. 3 located onthe foundation 18.

[0039]FIG. 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a portable flood barriersection 1 according to the invention. This embodiment does not have anysupport plate, instead the basis is formed by a permanent foundation 18in the ground 2.

[0040] A hinge bracket 23 is attached to the wall 5 by bolts 25. Acurved portion 24 of the hinge bracket 23 is hooked around a hinge pin22 of the foundation 18, and it is thereby provided a hinge 7 betweenthe wall 5 and the foundation 18, which enables a rotation of the wall 5in the direction illustrated by the arrow A. A rigid tie rod 9 which viaa hook 37 is attached to a tie rod bracket 38 of the wall 5, and via ahook 35 is hinged to a tie rod pin 36 of the foundation 18, prevents thewall 5 from being erected beyond the erected position.

[0041] As for the previous embodiments, reference numeral 10 indicatesthe flooded side of the wall 5, while reference numeral 11 indicates thenon-flooded side.

[0042] The wall 5 is along a lower edge 6 provided with a projectingseal flange 19 which is formed by a side of an angle 33 which isattached to the wall 5. A flexible waterproof sheet 15 is attached tothe wall 5 on the flooded side 10 and the underside of the seal flange19. The seal 12 is located under the seal flange 19, and the positivesealing pressure is caused by a levering action C on the seal flange 19due to a force from the tie rod 9. Additional sealing pressure is causedby the fact that water pressure from the flooding water tries to rotatethe wall 5 beyond its erected position, which means that the wall 5exerts a levering action in the direction C on the seal flange 19. Thisin turn causes the seal flange 19 to press the seal 12 down, whichcreates sealing between the seal flange 19 and the foundation 18.

[0043]FIG. 6 illustrates a foundation 18 to be used with the invention.This foundation is made in the ground 2 in an area in which flooding isexpected, and in a location in which it is suitable to raise a floodbarrier. On the left side 10 of the foundation 18, in which flooding canbe expected, there is a grassy plain 44. On the right side, i.e. on thenon-flooded side 11, there is an asphalt road 43. Thus the flood barrierwill be erected along a road.

[0044] The foundation 18 is made from concrete, with reinforcing bars 40made from steel. An upper reinforcing bar 40 is bent into a staggeredshape, with portions 22 forming hinge pins in recesses 53 of theconcrete. Thermal insulation 41 protects the foundation from frostdamage. Further a waterproof subsurface membrane 20 extends from thepermanent foundation 18 in the direction of the flooded area, i.e. inthe direction of the grassy plain 44, in order to protect the foundation18 from flooding water, and ensures that there is no water leakageunderneath the foundation.

[0045]FIG. 7 illustrates another foundation to be used with theinvention. This foundation consists of an angle 45 with a horizontalside 46 and a vertical, pointed side 47. This foundation can easily beplaced in a soft ground 2, simply by pressing the pointed side 47 downinto the ground by suitable means. In soft soil this may be donemanually. The vertical side 47 prevents leakage underneath the floodbarrier, and at the same time provides support for the horizontal side46, which will form a sealing surface towards the seal of the floodbarrier. By providing a number of foundation angles 45, 45′ in alongitudinal direction, a foundation for a flood barrier can easily andquickly be made.

[0046] The seal 12 in all the different embodiments of the flood barriersections and the flood barrier, can be of several types. The seal may bepermanently or removable attached to the flood barrier sections or tothe foundation. The seal can be attached to the flood barrier section bye.g. an adhesive or a tongue and groove connection, or the seal can alsobe placed loosely between the flood barrier section and the foundationor ground. The seal 12 may consist of a long, continuous seal that canbe used for a number of flood barrier sections or a single seal for eachflood barrier section. Another possibility is a first seal 12 coveringmore than one flood barrier section 1 and overlapping with a second seal12 covering more than one second flood barrier section 1′.

[0047] The seal may be of different types and materials. One example isa seal of flexible rubber, and it can be hollow, to ensure a goodflexibility and adaptation to an uneven ground. A seal 12 that isadaptable to an uneven ground is especially important for the embodimentshown in FIG. 1, where the flood barrier sections are placed on theground and not on an even foundation. The seal 12 can be inflatable, byfor instance a gas like air or even water. The seal 12 may be made of orpartly consist of materials that swell in contact with water, so that itwill tend to swell into gaps for example in an uneven ground. In a sealthat consist of only a swelling material, the swelling material wouldalso have to prevent flood water from coming through the seal. A sealthat partly consist of swelling material may be formed with a watertightmaterial on three of its sides, top, bottom and the side faced thenon-flooded side of the flood barrier section and a material within thatswells in contact with water. Since the watertight material only coverthree sides, the swelling material will come in contact with the waterand swell and by that, force the watertight material against the floodbarrier section and the ground or the foundation and provide a tightseal.

[0048] The wall and the support plate can be made from variousmaterials, e.g. waterproof plywood or another laminate.

1. A portable flood barrier section (1) to be located on a ground (2) toform a barrier (3) against flooding water (4), comprising an erectablewall (5) which along one of its edges (6) is hinged to a basis, thehinge (7) enabling a rotating erection (A) of the wall (5) from anessentially horizontal position to an erected position, and a flexibleor rigid tie (8, 9) which extends from the basis to the wall (5) on theflooded side (10) of the wall (5), to prevent an erection of the wall(5) beyond the erected position, characterised by a seal (12) which inthe erected position of the flood barrier section (1) is located betweenthe flood barrier section and the ground (2), and that the flood barriersection (1) is adapted to, prior to flooding, to expose the seal (12) toa positive sealing pressure exceeding a pressure caused by the weight ofthe flood barrier section (1).
 2. A portable flood barrier section (1)according to claim 1, wherein the basis is formed by a support plate(13) located on the flooded side (10) of the wall (5), ballast (14) islocated on the support plate (13) or on an extension (48) of the supportplate (13), and the seal (12) is located under the support plate (13).3. A portable flood barrier section (1) according to claim 1, whereinthe basis is formed by a support plate (13) located on the flooded side(10) of the wall (5), ballast (14) is located on an extension (48) ofthe support plate (13), and the seal (12) is located under the supportplate (13), close to an edge (54) of the support plate (13) which isdistal to the wall (5), the positive sealing pressure on the seal (12)being caused by a levering action due to the weight of the wall (5), thesupport plate (13) and the ballast (14).
 4. A portable flood barriersection (1) according to claim 1, wherein the basis is formed by asupport plate (13) located on the flooded side (10) of the wall (5), anedge (54) of the support plate distal to the wall (5) is hinged (22, 23,24, 30) to a permanent foundation (18) in the ground, and the seal (12)is located under the support plate (13), close to the edge (54) of thesupport plate (13) which is distal to the wall (5), the positive sealingpressure on the seal (12) being caused by a levering action due to theweight of the wall (5) and the hinge (22, 24, 30) to the permanentfoundation (18).
 5. A portable flood barrier section (1) according toclaim 4, wherein the hinge (22,30) between the support plate (13) andthe foundation (18), is formed by a tension band (30) attached to theupper side of the support plate (13) and a hinge pin (22) in thefoundation (18).
 6. A portable flood barrier section (1) according toany of the claims 2-5, wherein the hinge (7) is formed by a flexiblesheet (15) which is attached to the upper side of the support plate (13)and the side of the wall (5) facing away from the flooding water (4). 7.A portable flood barrier section (1) according to claim 1, wherein thebasis is formed by a support plate (13) which is located on the floodedside (10) of the wall (5), ballast (14) is located on the support plate(13), the wall (5) is provided with a projecting seal flange (19)extending along the hinged edge (6) of the wall (5), the seal (12) islocated under the seal flange (19), the positive sealing pressure beingcaused by a levering action (C) on the seal flange (19) due to weight ofthe wall (5), the support plate (13) and the ballast (14).
 8. A portableflood barrier section (1) according to claim 1, wherein the basis isformed by a permanent foundation (18) in the ground (2), the tie is arigid tie rod (9) extending from the permanent foundation (18) to thewall (5), the wall (5) is provided with a projecting seal flange (19)extending along the hinged edge (6) of the wall (5), the seal (12) islocated under the seal flange (19), the positive sealing pressure beingcaused by a levering action (C) on the seal flange (19) due to a forcefrom the tie rod (9).
 9. A portable flood barrier section (1) accordingto any of the claims 4-8, wherein a waterproof subsurface membrane (20)extends from the permanent foundation (18) in the direction of theflooded area.
 10. A portable flood barrier section (1) according to anyof the preceding claims, wherein the seal (12) comprises a material thatswells in contact with water.
 11. A portable flood barrier section (1)according to any of the claims 1-9 wherein the seal (12) is inflatable.12. A flood barrier (3) comprising flood barrier sections (1) accordingto any of the preceding claims, the flood barrier sections (1) beingmutually joined in the longitudinal direction of the flood barrier (3)by waterproof second seals (21).